Blade plate and instruments

Abstract

A blade plate, as well as instruments and methods for securing the blade plate to a bone to reduce a bone fracture. The blade plate includes a plate portion and a blade portion extending at an angle relative to the plate portion. The plate portion includes a plurality of holes for receipt of bone screws for securing the blade plate to the bone about the bone fracture. A strut screw, inserted through a hole in the plate portion, spans the angle between the plate and blade portions, and threadingly engages a hole in the blade portion to slightly draw the plate and blade portions together to compress and support the bone fracture. A pair of top screws are inserted through holes in the plate portion at angles with respect to the strut screw on either side of the strut screw. Additionally, the blade plate is designed to closely conform to the surface of the bone to minimize the gap between the bone and the blade plate. In order to secure the blade plate to a bone, a chisel/drill guide, chisel, insertion guide, and screw drill guides are provided.

1. A bone plate assembly, comprising:
 a bone plate including first and second extending portions defining an angle therebetween, said first portion forming an elongate plate portion having a plate portion longitudinal axis extending along the longest dimension of said elongate plate portion and a plurality of holes therein, said second portion forming an elongate blade portion having a blade portion longitudinal axis extending along the longest dimension of said elongate blade portion, at least one hole therein, and a blade end, said blade portion longitudinal axis transverse to said plate portion longitudinal axis, said blade end having a tapered blade edge tapering along at least a portion of said longitudinal axis of said elongate blade portion, said blade portion have a first cross-section taken at a point on said blade portion longitudinal axis furthest from said plate portion and a second cross-section taken at a point on said blade portion longitudinal axis nearer said plate portion than said first cross-section, said first cross-section being less than said second cross-section, wherein said blade end facilitates the insertion of said elongate blade portion into a bone; and 
 a screw extending through a said hole in one of said first and second portions, said screw threadingly engaging another said hole in the other of said first and second portions, and an intermediate portion of said screw between said at least one hole in said first extending portion and said at least one hole in said second extending portion capable of engaging bone, wherein said screw spans said angle between said first and second portions. 
 
   
   
     2. The bone plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said screw extends through one of said plurality of holes in said plate portion, and engages said at least one hole in said blade portion, wherein said screw extends through said plate portion to engage said at least one hole in said blade portion. 
   
   
     3. The bone plate assembly of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one hole in said blade portion includes a ledge about at least a portion of the periphery thereof, said screw threadingly engaging said ledge. 
   
   
     4. The bone plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second portions are placed in slight compression by said threaded engagement between said screw and said hole in said second portion. 
   
   
     5. The bone plate of  claim 1 , wherein said angle has a radius dimensioned such that, with said first extending portion resting against an outer surface of a bone and said second extending portion extending into the bone, said radius fits closely adjacent the outside surface of the bone. 
   
   
     6. The bone plate of  claim 5 , wherein said radius is about 0.25 inches or less. 
   
   
     7. The bone plate assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said first cross-section comprises a substantially U-shaped cross-section. 
   
   
     8. A bone plate assembly, comprising:
 a bone plate having elongate plate and blade portions connected to one another at a bend and disposed at an angle with respect to one another, said plate portion having a first hole therein and a second hole therein which is disposed intermediate said first hole and said bend, said second hole including first and second counterbores extending into opposite sides of said plate portion about said second hole, said elongate plate portion having a longitudinal axis; 
 a strut screw disposed through said first hole and extending toward said blade portion, said strut screw having a longitudinal axis, said longitudinal axis of said elongate plate portion and said longitudinal axis of said strut screw forming a plane; and 
 a top screw disposed through said second hole, said top screw extending angularly away from said plane, wherein said first and second counterbores of said second hole of said plate portion allows said top screw to be disposed through said second hole in a plurality of different angular positions with respect to said plate portion. 
 
   
   
     9. The bone plate assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a third hole disposed intermediate said first and second holes; and 
 another top screw disposed through said third hole, said another top screw extending angularly away from said plane. 
 
   
   
     10. The bone plate assembly of  claim 8 , wherein said blade portion includes a hole therein through which said strut screw is threadedly engaged. 
   
   
     11. The bone plate assembly of  claim 10 , wherein said strut screw includes an intermediate portion between said first hole in said plate portion and said hole in said blade portion capable of engaging bone. 
   
   
     12. The bone plate of  claim 8 , wherein said bend has a radius defined intermediate said plate portion and said blade portion, said radius dimensioned such that, with said plate portion resting against an outer surface of a bone and said blade portion extending into the bone, said radius fits closely adjacent the outside surface of the bone. 
   
   
     13. The bone plate of  claim 12 , wherein said radius is about 0.25 inches or less.